August 31, 2009

Patriots' Linebacker Tedy Bruschi Retires: After 13 seasons and three Super Bowl championships, New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi announced his retirement today. "All the goals I ever had, I accomplished," said Bruschi, who spent his entire career with the Pats. Bruschi, who came back after suffering a stroke in 2005, was a third-round draft pick in 1996.

I remember when he first got to the Pats - he did whatever was asked - lots of non-desirable duty. He didn't step in to his full role instantly - he only got to be a starter eventually through a lot of hard work.

Jerry Glanville was doing the Pats' pre-season games at that time, and made fun of Bruschi's name and how it was spelled during the broadcasts - didn't take him seriously. Tedy got all that nonsense stuffed before too long by making plays.

Reflecting back on his career, I don't think all that much about his stroke recovery. I more just think about his feel for the game and his unbelievable instinctive and reactive abilities. Some of what he brought can't be coached, and with the part that can be coached, Belichick must have loved to have had a player who he could connect with at such a high level. Not a lot of players "get" the game the way that Bruschi got it.

I thought Bruschi's speech was terrific, that his retirement was a celebration because he'd accomplished everything he set out to accomplish. In my mind's eye he'll be forever punching the ball out of Dominic Rhodes' hands in the playoffs against the Colts.

I'm really gonna miss him. I hope he stays involved in football in some capacity.

(BornIcon: the "Bruschi" thing? That's a feature, not a bug ;-) I think it was the 2002 AFC championship game -- Tedy had some great defensive plays in that game (one pick or maybe two, I think?), and the crowd at the Inn kept yelling in chorus, "It's time for a nice! Cold! BRUSCHI!")

Somehow, over the last 13 seasons, it seems that whenever there has been a game-changing defensive play by New England, Tedy Bruschi has been involved. Belichick called him "the perfect player", but I think it was not so much for his considerable talent, rather it was for his work ethic, dedication, and leadership. Given the span of his career, was he the best linebacker to have played during that time? I would have to say "no' to that, but I would have to say that he is certainly in the top 5%. When measured in terms of his contribution to the overall team defense, he is without peer. Fair winds and following seas, Tedy.